Apparatus for loading coal



April 1940. c. R. STAHL El AL 44 APPARATUS FOR LOADING COAL Filed Aug. 26, 19:57 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 3mm: Char/es Ii. sm/z/ lf'ennef/g Dav/'6' April 2, 1940. 3. STAHL ET AL APPARATUS FOR :LOADING COAL 11 sheets-sheet 2 Filad Aug. 26, 1937 Char/es B Sfdh/ lre n'efh. Dam/s Gum M44 April 2, 1940. c. R..STAHL El AL APPARATUS FOR LOADING CUAL Filed Aug. 26, 1937 1-1 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 5;

zlwuc ntom C)? ar/es B. Sfah/ f1 ennef/z Davis p i 2, 1940. c. R. sum. ET Al. 2,195,544

APPARATUS FOR LOADING COAL 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 26, 1937 gvwwwto'so Char/es R. Sfczh/ f1 ennef/v Dan/1s April 2, 1940.

C. R. STAHL ET AL APPARATUS FOR LOADING COAL Filed Aug 26. 1937 11 SheetsSheet 6 Fig.

' Char/es B. S'fah/ ffen nef/z Dav/I5 April 2, 1940. c. R. STAHL ET AL APPARATUS FOR LOADING COAL -l1 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 26, 1937 April 2, 1940.

c. R. STAHL ET AL 2,195,544

APPARATUS L FOR LOADING COAL Filed Aug. 26, 1937 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 wucnfor,

Char/es B. sfah Kennefh Dav/'5 ai W I April 2, 1940. c. R. STAHL ET AL 2,195

' MPARATUS Foa LOADING com.

Filed Aug. 26, 1937 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 a r I 12 2:

INVENTORS Char/es B. Sin/1] ennevh Dav/s April 2, 1940. c. R. STAHL El AL APPARATUS FOR LOADING COAL ll. Sheet s-Sheet 10 Filed Aug. 26, 1937 Char/es R. Sfa/z/ [1 e I 67% flaws Arm awe) 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 April 2,' 1940; c. R. STAHL ET AL APPARATUS FOR LOADING coAL.

Filad Aug. 26, 1937 r/es' B. Sfah/ TTOHNE) are srare's PATENT orrice 2,195,544 APPARATUS FOR LOADING COAL CharlesR. S tahl, and Kenneth Davis, Powellton, W. Va.

Application August 26;

r v 2'? Claims.

The invention relates generally to mining and primarily seeks to provide a new and improved apparatus for mining coal. 7 I

In the mining of coal, it frequently happens 5 that narrow or shallow seams'of coalare encountered which may measure only 30 inches in depth. Without suitable apparatus 'pa-rtic ularly adapted to the purpose, such seams of I coal cannot be profitablymined, and the present invention, among'other objects, seeks to provide a novel apparatus designedto make this-type" of mining practical. I

I am aware that intlie'm'in'ing of shallow; or 15 even deep coal seams; attempts have beenmade project into the undercut endless conveyors or drag pans bymeans of which it was'hoped-to take out or load the mass of overlying' coal-after I it had been shot dcwn onto said ccnveyors or pans. The weight of the mass too often caused breakage and failure of the conveyors and the pan inethod was too slow and un cer tain to be practical. Attempts also have been made 'to'ernploy drag lines and scoops-orthe like, but such -attempts have failed because of the ineificien'ci'es inherent in the scoop or drag structures andbecause of the inability to anchor the drag line at alow point in or behind the shot down coal mass so as to avoid riding upof'the-scoop-or 'drag and the resulting failure properly to' tak'e out the loose coal.

Among its several objects the invention there fore seeks to provide a novel apparatu s'suitable for practicing the method of mining and-loading 35: coal which consists in undercutting practically on the seam floor and'deep in the undercut, shootingdown or otherwisedepositing the overlying coal wall in a loose-mass-dt- "rectly upon the drag line, and-utilizing theline" to reciprocate a gathering unit' such as a slipper or skip into and out of the'coal mass to load the' coal onto cars. I

In its more detailed nature,- the'appa'iatus' of the drag line can beprojected into- -the coalwall undercut, and by which it can be firmly anchored in'the shot down mass of coal, attached. guide rail units, a'novel form of coal gathering slipper 'or skip guided by the rail units and reciprocat'ed by the drag line, and means for imparting-movement to the line.

to undercut the fact wall of the seam and to the coalwall or seam, anchoring a drag line atalow point or '-the invention includes-an anchor-rail by=which 1937; swarm; 161,118

the coal mass, and means for automatically lowering said end before it enters the coal'majss and for thereafter again lifting it to facilitate the taking aw'ay of the gathered load of coal;

" Anotherob'ject of the invention'is to provide a =reciprocat'ed coal gathering slipper or skip and guiding and supporting means therefor, all so constructed and arranged as to assure against the taking up of dirt or debris along with the ceal which it is sought to gather.

Another object of the invention isto provide novel means for automatically stripping off from the slip-per or skip the individual coal loads gathered thereon.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of self propelled coal gathering slipper or skip wherein is included power actuated devices to facilitate the digging in and gathering of the mass of coal to b'e'loadefd.

With the above and other objects in view which will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description; the appended claims, and" the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 and 1A together comprise a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view of a mine section with apparatus of the inventionoperatively mounted therein.

Figure 2 is a detail plan view of a guide'rail portion of the apparatus and the slipper guided thereon. I

Figure 3 is a vertical'cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view I illustratinga joint between guide rail sections.

Figure 5' is'a detail perspective view ofone of the skid-track-equipped guide rail units.

, Figure'fi is a detail perspective view of a fragment of the guide rail unit to 'which the slipper shovel controlling camis' attached. I

Figure 7 'is a vertical cross section'taken on tlie line "ll on Figure 6. a

Figure'S is a detailed plan View of the anchor rail portion of the apparatus.

Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinalsection taken on the line 9-9 on Figure 8. I I a Figure 10 is a detail perspective View of the slipper shown in Figures 1 and 3. I

Figure 11 isa somewhat diagrammatic longitudinal section illustrating the scraping out or unloading (lithe-slipper.

Figure 12'isa detail elevation and part section illustrating a bowed connection between the guide rail grippers.

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic plan view showing a side-drawn slipper controlled and guided by the draft cable.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 showing a center-drawn slipper.

Figure 15 is a detail side elevation showing one means for supporting the guiding cable portions shown in Figures 13 and 14.

Figure'16 is a vertical cross section taken on the line l6l6 on Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a central longitudinal section illustrating a center draft form of slipper.

Figure 18 is a vertical cross section taken on the line lS-lfl on Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a central longitudinal section of a slipper equipped with a shovel gate at each end.

Figure 20 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 20-29 on Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the invention in use in the making of a driving entry.

Figure 22 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the invention in use in air course working.

Figure 23 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating the delivery of the slipper-gathered coal onto a long conveyor, and from thence into successive cars of a trip.

Figure 24 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2l24 on Figure 23.

Figure 25 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the loading of coal shot down across the vein face in a wide room.

Figure 26 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2626 on Figure 25.

Figure 27 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the loading of coal shot down from a long face across the vein.

Figure 28 is a detail vertical cross section of a portion of guide rail equipped with a coal confining fence plate for use in long face mining.

Figure 29 is a detail side elevation of the driving end of the slipper employed in Figure 27.

Figure 30 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating another arrangement for long face mining.

Figure 31 is a detail vertical cross section taken on the line 3|3l on Figure 30.

Figure 32 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the working ,of wide rooms at opposite sides of the take-out trackage.

Figure 33 is a detail vertical cross section taken on the line 33-33 on Figure 32.

Figure 34 is a vertical cross section showing a loading ramp positioned over the take-out trackage in thick vein mining presenting high ceilings.

Figure 35 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating a bench mining arrangement.

Figure 36 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 3636 on Figure 35.

Figure 37 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view illustrating a self-propelled slipper and guide rail equipment therefor.

Figure 38 is an enlarged detail plan view of the slipper shown in Figure 37.

Figure 39 is a detail side elevation of the slipper shown in Figure 38.

Figure 40 is a detail vertical cross section taken on the line 4040 on Figure 39.

Figure 41 is a fragmentary side elevation diagrammatically illustrating the operation of the shovel gate latching and. releasing means.

Figures 42 and 43 are diagrammatic plan views respectively illustrating inside and outside curve trackway arrangements for the slipper shown in Figures 38 and 39.

Figure 44 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the arrangement of the cable, drum, and slipper equipments employed in Figures 1 and 1A.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In Figures 1, 1A, and 21, we have illustrated the invention in use in the making of a driving entry. As has been previously stated, the invention is particularly adapted to use in loading coal mined from shallow veins in which great difiiculty has heretofore been experienced in attempts to use mechanical devices, said seams frequently being as shallow as 30 inches, naturally greatly restricting mining operations. In the illustrations referred to, the shallow coal seam is indicated at 5. In order to gain access to the seam, for mining purposes, it is necessary to take out bottom material beneath the seam. The shelf or seam floor resulting from the mining or taking out of coal from the shallow vein is indi cated at 6, and I designates the floor formed by the taking out of the bottom material. See Figures 1 and 1A.

In the Stahl Patent 1,862,610, of June 14, 1932, there is disclosed a material loading machine particularly adapted to the taking out of bottom material for the purposes above mentioned, and a machine of this general character is employed in combination with other apparatus and elements in the practical development of our invention. The parts of this type of machine being disclosed in detail in the patent mentioned, the machine will be referred to herein only in a general way. This machine is movable, under its own power, over trackage 8 laid on the floor 1 and includes a frame 9, a motor In, hoist drums I I driven by suitable transmission connections 12 from said motor, and an upwardly inclined pan l3 over which the bottom material may be dragloaded as disclosed in the Stahl patent. The pan l 3 delivers, at its rear end, onto an open bottomed boom l4 removably secured to and extending rearwardly from the machine frame over one or more cars l5 of a trip of mine cars movable over the trackage 8. Two pulleys I6 are mounted at the rear end of the boom and two cables designated l1 and I8 are wound around the respective drums and looped over said pulleys. The cables are hereafter respectively designated advancing and retracting cables and preferably are reversely wound upon the drums H rigidly secured on the drum driving shaft so that when the slipper advancing cable H is being wound in, the slipper retracting cable l8 will be paying out and vice versa, as is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 44. The coal loading slipper, to opposite ends of which the free ends of the cable I! and I8 are secured, is generally designated l9. It will thus be seen that the slipper I9 is reciprocated back and forth with respect to the coal-to-be-loaded instead of a drag of the type shown in the Stahl patent.

I In the making of the driving entry above referred to and shown in Figures 1, 1A, and 21, the hoist and boom unit generally designated 20 in the diagrammatic views is moved in close to the wall 2| provided at the advance end of the bottom material takeout as shown in Figure 1A. Skid rails 22 bridge the gap between the drum cradle and the pan and between said cradle and the edge of the seam floor 6 as shown in Figure 1A. The rails 22 extending between the cradle and the 'U-pon the floor 6 'a suitable number of slipper guide rail units are mounted. These rails are 'movably secured together as at 49.

generally designated 26 in the diagrammatic views and-'areshown in detail in Figures l to =5 of the drawings. These rails areremovablysecured together, end-to end, to form a continuous guiding trackage, and-at the end of the trackage thus formed issecured an anchor railunit. The anchor rail units are generally designated 21 in theydiagrammatic figures and are shown in detail iii-Figures 1,8 and 9.

, Each guide rail unit includes a baseplate 28, an I-beam guide rail 29 secured longitudinally upon and upstanding from said-plate, laterally extended bars 30, and skid rails -3l-supported on said barsin parallel relation to said guide rails.

- An upstanding-angular member 32 is secured at each end of each plate and an angular member 33 is secured at the extended end of each-bar 30. The guide-rail sections are assembled by bolting tog'ether'the angular members 32 and 33, and in order to impart a measure of flexibility to the trackage, rubber blocks 34 may be interposed between the opposed angular members. Each base plate 23 includes a pair of jack receiving apertures or seats 35for receiving screw jacks 36. It will be obvious that when the screw jacks 36 are applied to the rail sections,as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, they will be rigidly held in position so as tosecurely mount the coal loading slipper and guide its reciprocation into and out of the broken coal-mass.

The anchor rail unit, shown-in detail in Figures 8 and 9, may include the same base plate and skid structure embodied in the guide rail sections but its guide rail 31 is extended upon said 'base plateand carries upper and lowerhousing plates. The lower housing plate is designated 38, and the companion-top plate '39, and these plates are' re- -A sheave 4| is rotatably supported between the plates at-the end of the anchor rail section and is protected from the broken coal mass by the plates 38 and 39 and end wall 42. A guide pulley 43 is rotatably'mounted between theplates 38 and '39 and r. the sheaves-4| and 43 serve to'anchor andguide the looped forward end of the cable l1 and position it in approximateparallel flights extending along inside the trackage, as indicated-in Figure 8.

The coal loading slipper generally designated [9, comprises a-box-like structure including a bottom 44, sides 45, an upwardly inclined rear-wall 46, and an open front end. The open front end is equipped with a shovel gate 41 "-hingedly -con- 'hected at its lower edge with the slipper, as indicated at 48, and including coal mass penetrating teeth 49 at the edge thereof directed toward the coal-mass-to-be-loaded. The g-ate'includes side flanges '59 having a laterally extended guide pin 5| movable in arcuate slots 52 slipper side walls. See Figures 1, 2, 3 and 10.

- A guid'e'bar 53 is secured to one side wall of the-slippen in spaced relation to said side, and a slide plate 54 equipped with four laterally projected bar embracing 'roller pins 5 5 is slidable in Figures 1A and 11.

provided in the along said bar, as shown in" Figures '3 l and "10. A link 56 connects the advance upper pin with one of thelaterally-projected shovel gate pins 51 so thatthe-shovel gate will be-lowered to present its coal mass penetratingedge mass, or elevatedtothe'loaded: coalretainingposi- 49 to abrok'enrcoal tion, as shown in Figure 10, accordinglyassaid slide member is moved to itsiorward orrearward limit along the guide bar 53.-

The slipper projecting or advancing :cable I-I is connected-to the lower advance pin 55 and-the slipper retracting or return cable |8 issecured to the rearward lower pin 56. "Thus whensaid cables are move'din onedir-ection or. the other as :previously described in connection with;member= 54, the slipper will be projected intoor withdrawn, loaded, from the brokencoal mass.

A latch member 59 is pivoted as at fifl to the slipper sideinposition for latchingoventhe upper rear pin fleas-shown in Figure '10. This latch memberwill serve to secure the shovel gate in the loaded'coal retaining position during withdrawal of the slipper. The latch includes-alaterally-projected trip finger 6|. See Figures 3 and 10. It willbe-noted also that railgrippers-GZ-are carried by theslipper, being pivot-link-connectedthereto as :at 63. These grippers are slidably guided along the .grip rail and'anchor section formed trackage, the pivotlin-ks permitting the limited amount ofupanddown movement of which the slipper :will necessarily partake in passing over uneven floor surfaces even though guidedby skid trackage the'use of which is optional. Thela tch tripping finger 6 I is 'engageable with a latch releasingcam-M secured as at on the anchor rail section base plate, as shown in Figures 1; 6 and 7.

The bottom take-out unit may, ifdesired, be provided with removable side wing elements-=66,

and a stripper plate 6] .is pivotally supported as at68 upon a bracketmember 69 rigidly mounted upon andupstandingfrom theboom-M, as shown The plate :67 serves the purpose .of stripping the loaded coal from the gatheringslipper, as shown irrFigure 11, and is of a .width just less than the inside width of the slipper.

In utilizing the invention in loading coal from a-shallow seam, in the making of a. driving entry,

the parts are arranged as shown in Figures'l, LA, and .21 with the anchor rail section2'l projected 'llltO an undercut '10,:as :shown in Figure 1. -With the parts thus mounted the mass of coal overhanging the undercut is shot'or otherwise broken down uponthe anchor rail section and the control devices of the takeout:machine .22! are actuated to alternately .wind inand out the cables Ill and :l8 ior reciprocating the slipper l9 into and out of the broken coal mass. Eachtime the slipper is about to move into the mass of coal, the trip finger 6| engages the cam-6.4, and the latch member 59 whichhas been holding theshovelgate in its elevated position and the slide 54in its rearmost position releases said slide and the cable I! which has been drawing theslipper forwardly will draw said slide forwardly and force the-shovel gate to its'lowered, coal mass penetrating position, in which position it will dig'into and gather a load of coal from the broken coal mass. As the rotation of-the drums i I is reversed, the cable 18 will move the slide 54 along thebar 53'and raiSethe-shovel'gate 41-to the coal load retaining "position illustrated in Figure 10 and-as the slide 54 moves again to its rearmost position, it will be latched in that position by the member 59. The cable 8 now=withdraws the slipper from theme] .mass and draws it rearwardly along the trackage and over the boom l 4 and under the stripper plate 61' mounted thereover. As the slipper is moved beneath said plate, as shown iii-dotted lines in Figure llof the drawings, the platepwill pass freely over the load of coal until it reaches the shovel gate equipped end of the slipper. The direction of' rotation of thev drums H is again reversed and the 'cable I! draws the slipper forwardly causing the plate to move down behind the load of coal and strip it from the slipper, as shown in full lines in Figure 11.

.As previously stated, mine floor surfaces are rough and the flexibly connected track sections might hump as indicated at H inFigure 12. In order properly to guide movement of the rail grippers 62 in a manner preventing canting and resultant binding, said grippers may be connected by a distance piece 12 upwardly bowed so as to readily pass over such trackage humps 'II as; might exist.

In Figure 13 of the drawings, we have illustrated a modified arrangement in which the rigid trackage is eliminated and the slipper I9 is cable guided. In this arrangement the slipper may be provided with laterally projected guide members 73 which may be hinge-connected as at 14 with the slipper. These guide members slidably encircle a relatively taut guiding cable which, in this particular illustration, may be the cable I! hereinbefore referred to. In this figure, the ends of the cables I! and it are connected at one side of the'slipper. In Figure 14, we have shown a similar cable guide arrangement in which the ends of the cables are attached centrally to the slipper as at 75 instead of at the sides in the forms of the invention hereinbefore described.

It will be obvious that instead of utilizing the return flight of the slipper projecting cable I! as a relatively taut guide cable, a taut cable rigidly connected at its respective ends may be provided for this specific purpose. Whatever type of cable guide is employed should be supported in some manner to prevent free lateral deflection. In Figures 15 and 16, we have disclosed a means for so supporting the guide cable. This means comprises a pair of retainer plates 76 supported across a pair of supporting jacks 11 with a slipper guide-eye opening or passage formed therebetween. Aside from the narrow opening thus permitted for passage of the guide eyes, the'plates l6 and the jacks Tl retain the cables against free lateral deflection. The eye passing opening between the plates 18 is eiiectively closed by a rockable retainer plate 18 equipped with cam noses '19 at its respective ends shaped to be deflected by the guide eyes 13.

In Figures 17 and 18, we have disclosed a modified form of slipper of the center draft type. This slipper is provided with a tunnel 80 formed centrally along the bottom thereof, and a rod member 8! is reciprocable in said tunnel and connected by a link 82 with a crank member 83 carried by the shovel gate 47. The cables I! and 18 are connected to the respective ends of the rod 3|. Whenever the cable I! is in control, the shovel gate will be moved to its lowered position as shown in full lines in Figure 17, and whenever the cable 18 takes control it will pull the rod 8| and link 82 rearwardly, and through the crank connection 83, will lift the shovel gate 41 to the coal load retaining position. Q

In Figure 19 o f the drawings, we have shown a slipper of the double end, double acting type, in which a shovel gate is provided at each end. In this illustration the second shovel gate is indicated at 84 and is hinged at 85 adjacent the bottom of the slipper, the gate side wings 86 having laterally projected pins movable in arcuate slots 81 provided therefor in the slipper sides. A gate operating lever 88 is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 89 upon one slipper side wall and is link-connected as at 90 to the shovel gate 84 and slot-and-pin connected as at 9| with the slide plate 54. In this form of slipper either of the shovel gates may be presented to .a broken mass of coal-to-be-loaded.

In Figure 22 of the drawings, we have illustrated the invention in use in mining and loading coal from an air course paralleling a driving entry. The driving entry isillustrated at 92 and is made in the manner hereinbefore described. It is customary in the making of driving entries to also run an air course 93 paralleling such entry and connected therewith by diagonally disposed connecting courses 94 so as to afford communication between the mining entry and the air course. When the desired driving entry has been completed, it may be found desirable to mine and load coal from the air course, and our improved apparatus can be employed in accomplishing this by interposing in the trackage hereinbefore described, suitable curved portions'indicated at 95 so that the trackage can be extended longitudinally in the driving entry, then through a communicating diagonal cours 9%, and again longitudinally in the air course 93. The operation of the slipper is as previously described.

In Figures 23 and 24, we have shown a modified adaptation of the invention in which the gathered coal, instead of being deposited directly through the boom l4 into the trip of cars, is deposited onto a long conveyer 96, suitably supported as at 91, and from thence serially into ;the cars 98 of the trip of cars movable along the trackage 8.

In Figures 25 and 26, we have illustrated the invention in use loading coal broken down from a long face across a wide room. The coal face is indicated at 99 and this face is undercut as at ID!) to receive the anchor rail section. 27 and a number of guide rail sections 26 as shown in Figure 25. Suitable guide rail sections are employed to provide a turn portion lfll extending from beneath the undercut and joining a trackage portion composed of sections 26 and designated I02 and which extends at right angles to the trackage laid under the undercut. In this form of the invention, the coal mass overlying the undercut is shot down upon the trackage and the slipper is reciprocated into and out of the mass along the mass covered trackage portion and the portion H12 thereof free of said mass.

In Figures 27, 28 and 29, we have shown another arrangement of the invention in which coal is loaded after being shot down from a long face across a wide room. In the form of the invention shown in Figure 25, sections 26 are added to the trackage portion I02 as the face being mined recedes from the cable drums. In the form of the invention shown in Figure 27, the face being mined recedes toward the drum and, correspondingly, guide rail sections would be removed instead of being added as the mining and loading progresses. In this form of the invention, the room face is indicated at I03,

- face, with forwardly I31 is indicated at being supported upon the main body of the vein by a cross-cut I04 which joins two rooms I05. Th main course in which the trackage is laid is indicated at I66 and the trackage is designated I01 As in the long face mining method previously described, the anchor rail section 21 and a number of guide rail sections 26 are laid in the room long face undercut I08, and this trackage portion. is connected by a' curved portion I09 with the main body of the trackage disposed at right angles to the covered trackage as here inbefore described. When thus used the slipper I9 preferably isprovided at'the front edge of the face thereof presented toward the long projected wall engaging teeth I ID. The rail sections 26 may also be provided with fence plates I II for confining the coal mass when it is broken down onto the underlying rail sections 26 and. 21'. See Figure 28.

In Figures 30 and 31, we have shown-another form of long face cut in which thelong face IIZ extends in the same direction with the main body of the trackage composed of the anchor and guide rails 21 and 26. In this illustration, the undercut is illustrated as at H3 and the trackage and car trip, disposed in parallel relation, are indicated at. H4. As the, slipper I9 is reciprocated back and forth, it may ride up over a bridge ramp [I and have the loaded coal stripped therefrom by a. stripper plate IIB mounted on said ramp. The stripped coal may be deposited upon a short conveyor I I! supported beneath and longitudinally of the ramp I I5, and a long transverse. conveyor II-B may receive. the

a coal from the delivered end ofv the conveyor III and deposit it, serially, into the trip of cars.

In Figures 3 2 and 33 of the drawings,v we have illustrated how the. invention can be employed loading coal broken down from long faces in wide rooms at opposite sides of the main course. In this illustration, the wide rooms are indicated at MS and the main course, in which the trackage and car trip are located, is indicated at I20. A line I 2| of anchor and guide rail sections is disposed in each room. paralleling the long face I22 thereof. faces are undercut'as at I23 and broken down for loading purposes as hereinbefore described. The parallel trackage lines I2I connect, by curved portions I24, with transversely positioned trackage lines I25. The slipper guiding and supporting; bridge I25 is mo. ted over the trip of cars in the main course I20 and a pair of reversely positioned stripper plates I21 are pivotally supported on said bridge. In this form of the invention, if desired-,- asingle cable I28 may be used, the free ends thereof being wound reversely upon the drums I 29', guided in opposite directions by guide sheaves I30 and looped around the sheaves in the anchor rail sections 21. By manipulation of the drums I29, a slipper I9 may be operated in each or either room I I9 in the man ner hereinbefore described and one or the other of the stripper plates will serve to strip the loaded coal from the slipper and deposit it intothe trip of cars.

In Figure 34 of the drawings, we, have illustrated a ramp type of slipper guiding and supporting bridge I3I. which may be mounted over a trip of cars in a deep or thick seam, thusrendering unnecessary thetaking out of bottom material to provide a trackage and caraccommodating course, such as is shown in Figure 33. In this. figure, a trip of cars bridged by the rampv sheaves I39 serving to loop and guide It is to be understood that the long I 5 I32 and stripper plates are suitably mounted as illustrated at I33.

In Figure 35 of the drawings, we have illustrated the invention applied to bench mining.

In this use of the invention, a driving entry is made in two-strata coal, a high grade seam being disposed at the top and a low grade seam at the bottom. A recessed course or runway I34- disposed transversely of the driving entry accommodates the trackage and trip of cars; The driving entry provides a collecting trough I35 in the lower or low grade strata of coal and then the upper strata of coal is cut out as at I36 so as to fall into and mix with the lower grade of coal in the troughway I35. By now reciprocating the slipper along the trackage in the troughway I35, the high and low grade coal is taken out in substantially mixed form. The trackagev is composed of an anchor rail section I3! and a plurality of guide rail sections I38, the anchor rail the cables I40 wound reversely upon the drums MI and which serves to reciprocate the slipper I42. The slipper I42 is equipped at one side with rail grippers I43 and at its other side with a side plate I44 slidable along the supporting rail portion I45 extended from the guide rail sections previously referred to. A bridge unit I46 is mounted over a trip of cars and carries a stripper blade for stripping loaded coal from the stripper M2 in the manner hereinbefore described.

, In Figures 37 to 43 of the drawings, we have illustrated a coal loading slipper which is automatically caused to reciprocate during the coal loading operation This slipper is generally des ignated M1 in diagrammatic Figures 37, 42 and 43. The slipper-is slidably guided along guide rail sections I48 and travels along a traction chain I49 secured under a mass of shot down, coal at its front end as at I51! to the assembled trackage sections and coiled and secured at its rear end as at I51. The slipper guiding trackage formed of sections I48 may include outside or inside curved, portions I52 or I53 when a particular installation demands a turn in the trackage. When an inside curve is necessary as -shown in Figure 43, a series of jack mounted rollers I54 may be provided for supporting the cross over portion I49.

This form of slipper includes a bottom I55, sides. I56, and an upwardly inclinedrear end I51. A shovel gate l58is hinged as at I53 at the front end of the slipper and rail grippers I69 are mounted at one side of the slipper upon pivot links IBL- The chain I49 passes through two guide members I62 secured to the side wall of the slipper and a vertical shaft I63 rotatable in bearings IM is associated with each of said guides. A drive sprocket I65 is secured upon the lower end of each shaft I53, within the respective guide I62, said sprockets engaging the chain I49 so that when the shafts I53 are rotated in one direction or another, the slipper will be caused to move in one direction or another along said chain, guided by the trackage section I48.

A worm I66 having its threads pitched at a 45 angle is secured upon the upper end of each shaft I63; The teeth of the Worms I66 are reversely directed and adapted to be rotated selectively by a drive shaft I61 to which rotation is imparted by a motor lfifi-supported on the slippery as shown in Figures 38 and 39. As previously of the drawings, that the motor is supplied by a feed line I69 wound about a spring drum I79.

Two worms I II are loosely mounted on the drive shaft I 51 and mesh with the worms carried by the respective shafts I68. A clutch III. is associated with each worm HI and these clutches are rendered alternately effective for imparting rotation from the shaft Iiil' to a selective one of the shafts I68 by a lever I73 pivoted as at I'M to the side wall of the slipper and snapped to one or the other of its clutch engaging positions by a spring l'lificonnected to the lever and to the side wall of the slipper at opposite sides of the pivotal mounting I74.

A large disc or pulley I 78 is rotatably'mounted at each side of the shovel gate I58, as shown in Figures 38 and 39, and a. toothed chain In passes around each member I78 and over a drive sprocket I18 on a cross shaft I19 disposed beneath the slipper bottom. The sprockets I18 are driven by power transmission connections I 89 from the motor I68.

The shovel gate I58 is link-connected as at I8I to a lever pivoted intermediate its ends as at I82 and connected with said link by a latch pin I83 movable in an arcuate slot provided in the side Wall of the slipper. A latch member I 84 is pivoted as at I85 to the slipper side wall and includes a latch release lug extension I86. A shovel gate releasing and lifting lever I8! is pivoted as at I88 to the slipper side wall and is equipped with a release finger I89 engageable with the release lug I86 and a lift finger I99 engageable with the free end of the lever pivoted at I82. The free end of the lever I8! is equipped with a laterally projected finger I9I engageable with a stationarily positioned track cam I92.

In operation, as the slipper structure shown in Figures 38 and 39 is driven toward the broken coal mass-to-be-loaded by rotation of the properly selected one of the sprockets I66 in engage: ment with the chain I49, the lever extension I9I will strike the cam and cause the finger I89 to engage and lift the latch member I 86, I84 permitting the shovel gate to fall to the position shown in Figure 39 of the drawings. As the slipper moves into the coal mass the chains I1! moving about the discs I16 will dig in and loosen the coal mass to aid in the loading thereof into the slipper. As the retraction or reverse movement of the slipper starts, the lever portion I9I, will again engage the track cam I92 and be moved thereby to the position shown at the dotted lines in Figure 41, causing the finger I9!) to engage the lever pivoted at I82 and effect. a lifting of the shovel gate to the load retaining position shown in dotted lines in Figure 41.

The reverse movement of the slipper will continue until the slipper has moved under the stripper plate associated therewith, and upon again reversing the direction of travel of the slipper the load of coal will be stripped from the stripper and disposed upon a suitable receiving means.

It will be understood that the reversal of the power transmitting connections is \eiTected at each end of the path of reciprocation of the slipper by a suitable stationary cam I93 engaging and shifting the laterally extended end of the clutch lever I13. See Figure 37.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed'and modified without departing from the'spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

' In apparatus of the character described, a coal gathering slipper, means including power applying devices carried by the slipper and control means engaged by the slipper during reciprocatory movement thereof and automatically effective for reciprocating it into and out of a mass of broken coal, a shovel gate hingedly mounted at the slipper end presented toward the coal mass, and automatically operable means for lowering the gate for edge engagement with the coal mass when entering said mass and for lifting the gate as the slipper is withdrawn from the mass for retaining gathered coal.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a sheave anchored under a broken coal mass, a cable looped about the sheave and extending from the mass, means for protecting the sheave and looped cable portion from the coal mass, a gathering slipper, means including the cable for alternately projecting the slipper into and withdrawing it from said mass, and rigid track means for guiding the reciprocation of said slipper and for supporting said sheave.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a sheave anchored under a broken coal mass, a cable looped about the sheave and extending from the mass, a gathering slipper, means including the cable for alternately projecting the slipper into and withdrawing it from said mass, and means including a guide rail and skid trackage formed in connected sections for guiding and supporting said slipper, one said section forming a support for said sheave.

4. In apparatus of the character described, an anchor rail to be anchored beneath a broken mass of coal comprising a slipper guide rail portion, upper and lower plates, and cable loop guiding sheave equipment mounted between said plates.

5. In apparatus of the character described, an anchor rail to be anchored beneath a broken mass of coal comprising a slipper guide rail portion, upper and lower plates, cable loop guiding sheave equipment mounted between said plates, means for closing the space between the plates adjacent said sheave equipment, and an anchoring plate secured to said rail and having anchor jack receiving seats therein.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a slipper reciprocable into and out of a broken coal mass for loading purposes, rail sections secured in end-to-end relation for guiding said slipper, rail grippers slidably engaging said rails, and supporting links for said grippers hingedly connected to the slipper and to said grippers.

'7. In apparatus of the character described, a slipper reciprocable into and out of a broken coal mass for loading purposes, rail sections for guiding said slipper yieldably secured together in end-to-end relation by means including yieldable inserts, and rail grippers slidably engaging said rails and connected to said slipper.

8- In apparatus of the character described, a slipper reciprocable into and out of a broken coal mass for loading purposes, rail sections yieldably secured together in end-to-end relation for guiding said slipper, a pair of rail grippers slidably engaging said. rails and connected to said slipper, and an upwardly bowed distance piece joining said grippers.

9. In apparatus of the character described, a slipper reciprocable into and out of a broken includingi a" cable. presenting a pull flight and a returnzfiight, guide eyes projecting laterally from coal mass 'ior loading purposes; a'guide rail, rail grippers carried by said slipper andslidably guided on said rail, a shovel gate shi'ftably mounted at the end of the slipper and presented tow'ardthjecoal mass, means for reciprocating the slipper, and means including a gate latching and releasing devices carried by the slipper and a stationarily supported latching and releasing cam for effecting a shifting of said gate to a coal mass penetrating position when the slipper is moving toward the coal mass and to a coal retaining position'when said slipper is moving in theopposite direction.

l 10. A coal gathering slipper comprising a bottom, side walls, an inclined rear end portion, a shovel gate hingedly connected at its lower edge at thefront of the slipper and capable of being lowered and raised-to provide'a coal penetrating edgewhen lowered and a coalretaining wall when raised, means for reciprocating the slipper into and out of a mass of broken coal, means carried bysaid slipper for raising and lowering saidgate, and stationarilyv supported means engageable during reciprocation of said slipper for actuating said raising and lowering means.

ll. A. coal gathering slipper comprising a bottom, side walls,- an inclinedrear end portion, a

shovel'gate hingedly'connected at its lower edge at the-front of the slipper and capable of being lowered andraised to provide a coal penetrating edge When-lowered and a coal retaining wall when raised, a bar secured in spaced-relation along one sidewall, a "slide member slidable along said bar, means connecting the slide member and gate for rai'sing 'and lowering said gate accordingly as said slide member is moved, and slipper reciprocating cable means attached to the respective ends of said slide member and operable to reciprocate the slipper into and out of a mass of broken coal and for sliding the slide member along said bar a limited distance during each movement of reciprocation of the slipper. g

12'. A coal gathering slipper comprising a bot tom, side walls, an inclined rear end portion, a shovel gate hingedly connected at its lower edge at the front of the slipper and capable of being lowered and raised to provide a coal penetrating edge when lowered and. a coal retaining wall when raised, a bar secured in spaced relation along one side wall, a slide member slidable along said bar, means connecting the slide member and gate for raising and lowering said gate accordingly as said slide member is moved, gate latching means carried by the slipper and engageable with the slide member when the gate is in raised position, and

slipper reciprocating cable means attached to the respective ends of said slide member and operable to reciprocate the slipper into and out of a mass of broken coal and for sliding the slide member along said bar a limited distance during each movement of reciprocation of the slipper, and,

movement of the slipmeans effective upon each per toward the coal mass to release the latching means and permit the slide member to move forwardly and cause a lowering of said gate.

13. In apparatus of the character described, a coal loading slipper, slipper reciprocating means including a cable presenting a pull flight and a return flight, guide eyes projecting laterally from the slipper and slidably embracing said return flight, and means for holding said return flight against free lateral deflections while permitting passage of said eyes.

14. In apparatus of the character described, a coal loading slipper, slipper reciprocating means the slipperand slidably embracing said return flight, and means for holding said returnflight against free lateral deflections while permitting passage'of said eyes,'said last named means comprising a pair of spaced jack members, cable flight retaining'plates carried by'the jack members and having a longitudinal eye passing opening therebetween, and a swingable plate closing said opening and'having cam noses displaceable by passage ofsaid eyes. i

15. In apparatus of the character described, a relatively taut slipper guiding cable engageable by guiding means projected from a slipper, and means for holding said cable against free lateral deflections while permitting passage of said eyes,

said last named means comprising a pair of spaced jack members, cable retaining plates carried by the jack members and having a longitudinal guidingmeans passing opening therebetween, and a swin'gable plate closing said opening and having cam noses displaceable by' passage of said guiding means. i

16. In apparatus of the character described, a coal. loading slipper comprising a bottom, side walls, a-shovel'gate at each end of the slipper hingedly connectedat its lower edge and capable of being lowered and raised to provide a coal penetrating edge when lowered and a coal retainingwall when raised, an operating lever pivoted intermediate its ends on'a side wall of the slipper and link connected at its ends with the gates for raising and lowering them, and means for reciprocating the slipper and oscillating said lever.

1'7. In apparatus ofthe character described, a

coal loading slipper comprising a bottom, side walls, ashovel gate at each end of the slipper hingedly connected at its lower edge and capable of being-lowered and raised to provide a coal penetrating edge when lowered and a coal retaining wallwhen raised, an operating lever pivoted intermediate its ends on aside wallof the slipper and link connected-at its ends with the gates for raising and lowering them, means for reciprocating the slipper and oscillating said lever, and a pair of oppositely directed pivoted stripper plates alternately engageable by said slipper for efi'ecting the stripping of loaded coal from one end or the other of said slipper. 1

18. In apparatus of the character described, guide trackage, a coal loading slipper guided on and movable along said trackage and having provision for picking up, retaining and taking away loads of coal, interengaging traction devices carried respectively on said trackage and slipper, and power means on said slipper for driving said devices and causing said slipper to move along said trackage.

19. In apparatus of the character described, guide trackage, a coal loading slipper guided on and movable along said trackage and having provision for picking up, retainingand taking away loads of coal, interengaging traction devices carried respectively on said trackage and slipper, and means including power means on said slipper for driving said devices and stationary cam means for causing automatic reciprocation of the slipper on said trackage.

20. In apparatus of the character described, guide trackage, a coal loading slipper guided on and movable along said trackage, interengaging and stationary cam means for causingautomatic' reciprocation of the slipper on said trackage, a shovel gate carried by said slipper and movable thereon to present a penetrating edge to a broken coal mass or to a coal retaining position, and means automatically operable during reciprocation of the slipper for alternately moving the gate from one to the other of the two stated positions.

21. In apparatus of the character described, guide trackage, a coal slipper reciprocable along said trackage, power means carried by said slipper for imparting movement thereto and including an electric motor, a current supply line connected to said motor, and a spring drum for winding in or paying out said line as the slipper reciprocates.

22. In apparatus of the character described, guide trackage, a coal loading slipper guided on and movable along said trackage, a chain anchored at its ends and lying along said trackage, and power means carried by said slipper and including a driving sprocket in engagement with said chain for causing the slipper to move along said trackage.

23, In apparatus of the character described, guide trackage, a coal loading slipper guided on and movable along said trackage, interengaging traction devices carried respectively on said trackage and slipper, power means on said slipper for driving said devices and causing said slipper to move along said trackage into and out of a broken coal mass, and rotary means driven from said power means and disposed at each side of the coal mass penetrating end of the slipper to dig in and loosen the coal mass.

24. In apparatus of the character described, guide trackage, a coal loading slipper guided on and movable along said trackage, interengaging traction devices carried respectively on said trackage and slipper, means including power means on said slipper for driving said devices and stationary cam means for automatically reciprocating the slipper on said trackage, a shovel gate carried by said slipper and movable thereon to present a penetrating edge to a broken coal mass o'rto a" coal retaining position, means automatically operable during reciprocation of the slipper for alternately moving the gate from one to the other of the two stated positions, a disc at each side of said gate, means for imparting rotation to said discs from said power means, and toothed chains passing over said discs and effective to dig in and loosen the coal mass.

25. In apparatus of the character described, guide trackage, a coal loading slipper guided on said trackage and carrying a motor and having an advance end shaped to penetrate, pick up, retain and take away coal mass portions, interengaging traction devices carried respectively by said trackage and said slipper, and track cam actuated clutch devices carried by said slipper effective to automatically cause reciprocation of the slipper along the trackage. a

26. In apparatus of the character described, guide trackage, a coal loading slipper guided on said trackage and carrying a tnotor, interengaging traction devices carried respectively by said trackage and said slipper, track cam actuated clutch devices carried by said slipper effective to automatically cause reciprocation of the slipper along the trackage, a shovel gate carried by said slipper and movable thereon to present a penetrating edge to a broken coal mass or to a coal retaining position, and means automatically operable during reciprocation of the slipper for alternately moving the gate from one to the other of the two stated positions.

27. In apparatus of the character described; a coal gathering slipper having a bottom, sides and a shovel gatehinged to the bottom at the front edge thereof; means for reciprocating the slipper into and out of a mass of broken coal; and means for-lowering the gate to a horizontal digging position just prior to entry into the coal mass; and means for lifting the gate to a coal retaining position as it is withdrawn from the coal mass.

CHARLES R. STAHL. KENNETH DAVIS. 

